CHN- PUBLIC HEALTH LAW

R.A. 7305 - Magna Carta for Public Health Workers

This act aims to promote and improve the social and economic well-being of the health workers, their living and working conditions and terms of employment; to develop their skills and capabilities in order that they will be more responsive and better equipped to deliver health projects and programs; and to encourage those with proper qualifications and excellent abilities to join and remain in government service.

PD 856 -
Code on Sanitation of the Philippines

- The objective of this Code on Sanitation is the improvement of the way of the Filipinos by directing public health services towards the protection and promotion of the health of the people.

R.A. 8749 - Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

-Provides for a comprehensive air pollution control policy, focusing primarily on pollution prevention; create social awareness; and promote active participation in air quality planning and monitoring.

Declaration of Principles.
• The State shall protect and advance the right of
the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
• The State shall promote and protect the global
environment to attain sustainable development
while recognizing the primary responsibility of
local government units to deal with
environmental problems.
• The State recognizes that the responsibility of
cleaning the habitat and environment is primarily
area-based.
• The State also recognizes the principle that
"polluters must pay".
• Finally, the State recognizes that a clean and
healthy environment is for the good of all and
should therefore be the concern of all.

• Declaration of Policies.
• The State shall pursue a policy of balancing development and
environmental protection. To achieve this end, the framework for
sustainable development shall be pursued. It shall be the policy of the
State to:
• a) Formulate a holistic national program of air pollution management
that shall be implemented by the government through proper
delegation and effective coordination of functions and activities;
• b) Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among citizens and
industries though the application of market-based instruments;
• c) Focus primarily on pollution prevention rather than on control and
provide for a comprehensive management program for air pollution;
• d) Promote public information and education to encourage the
participation of an informed and active public in air quality planning
and monitoring; and
• e) Formulate and enforce a system of accountability for short and
long-term adverse environmental impact of a project, program or
activity. This shall include the setting up of a funding or guarantee
mechanism for clean-up and environmental rehabilitation and
compensation for personal damages

R.A. 6675 (Generics Act of 1988)

An act to promote, require and ensure the production of an adequate supply, distribution, use and acceptance of drugs and medicines identified by their generic names

• Statement of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the
State:
• To promote, encourage and require the use of generic
terminology in the importation, manufacture, distribution,
marketing, advertising and promotion, prescription and
dispensing of drugs;
• To ensure the adequate supply of drugs with generic
names at the lowest possible cost and endeavor to make
them available for free to indigent patients;
• To encourage the extensive use of drugs with generic
names through a rational system of procurement and
distribution;
• To emphasize the scientific basis for the use of drugs, in
order that health professionals may become more aware
and cognizant of their therapeutic effectiveness; and
• To promote drug safety by minimizing duplication in
medications and/or use of drugs with potentially adverse
drug interactions.

RA 7875-
National Health Insurance Act of 1995

General Objectives. - This Act seeks to:
a) provide all citizens of the Philippines with the mechanism to gain financial
access to health services;
b) create the National Health Insurance Program, hereinafter referred to as the
Program, to serve as the means to help the people pay for health care services;
c) prioritize and accelerate the provision of health services to all Filipinos,
especially that segment of the population who cannot afford such services; and
d) establish the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, hereinafter referred to as
the Corporation, that will administer the Program at central and local levels

RA 7719 -National Blood Services Act of 1994

Declaration of Policy. - In order to promote public health, it is hereby declared the policy of
the State:
• a) to promote and encourage voluntary blood donation by the citizenry and to instill public
consciousness of the principle that blood donation is a humanitarian act;
• b) to lay down the legal principle that the provision of blood for transfusion is a professional
medical service and not a sale of a commodity;
• c) to provide for adequate, safe, affordable and equitable distribution of supply of blood and
blood products;
• d) to inform the public of the need for voluntary blood donation to curb the hazards caused by
the commercial sale of blood;
subjects of the formal education system in all public and private schools, in the elementary,
high school and college levels as well as the non-formal education system;
• f) to mobilize all sectors of the community to participate in mechanisms for voluntary and nonprofit
collection of blood;
• g) to mandate the Department of Health to establish and organize a National Blood
Transfusion Service Network in order to rationalize and improve the provision of adequate and
safe supply of blood;
• h) to provide for adequate assistance to institutions promoting voluntary blood donation and
providing non-profit blood services, either through a system of reimbursement for costs from
patients who can afford to pay, or donations from governmental and non-governmental
entities:

R.A 11332 - MANDATORY REPORTING OF NOTIFIABLE DISEASES AND HEALTH EVENTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN ACT

• Declaration of Policy.
• It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect
and promote the right to health of the people and
instill health consciousness among them.
• It shall endeavor to protect the people from public
health threats through the efficient and effective
disease surveillance of notifiable diseases including
emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases,
diseases for elimination and eradication, epidemics,
and health events including chemical, radio-nuclear
and environmental agents of public health concern
and provide an effective response system in
compliance with the 2005 International Health
Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization
(WHO).
• The State recognizes epidemics and other public
health emergencies as threats to public health and
national security, which can undermine the social,
economic, and political functions of the State.

This Act shall have the following objectives:
• (a) To continuously develop and upgrade the list of
nationally notifiable diseases and health events of public
health concern with their corresponding case definitions
and laboratory confirmation;
• (b) To ensure the establishment and maintenance of
relevant, efficient and effective disease surveillance and
response system at the national and local levels;
• (c) To expand collaborations beyond traditional public
health partners to include others who may be involved in
the disease surveillance and response, such as
agricultural agencies, veterinarians, environmental
agencies, law enforcement entities, and transportation
and communication agencies, among others;
• (d) To provide accurate and timely health information
about notifiable diseases, and health-related events and
conditions to citizens and health providers as an integral
part of response to public health emergencies;
collaboration with national and local government health
agencies to ensure proper procedures are in place to
promptly respond to reports of notifiable diseases and
health events of public health concern, including case
investigations, treatment, and control and containment,
including follow-up activities;
• (f) To ensure that public health authorities have the
statutory and regulatory authority to ensure the following:
• (1) Mandatory reporting of reportable diseases and health
events of public health concern;
• (2) Epidemic/outbreaks and/or epidemiologic investigation,
case investigations, patient interviews, review of medical
records, contact tracing, specimen collection and testing, risk
assessments, laboratory investigation, population surveys,
and environmental investigation;
• (3) Quarantine and isolation; and
• (4) Rapid containment and implementation of measures for
disease prevention and control;
(g) To provide sufficient funding to support operations needed
to establish and maintain epidemiology and surveillance units
at the DOH, health facilities and local government units (LGUs);
efficiently and effectively investigate outbreaks and health
events of public health concern; validate, collect, analyze and
disseminate disease surveillance information to relevant
agencies or organizations; and implement appropriate
response;
• (h) To require public and private physicians, allied medical
personnel, professional societies, hospitals, clinics, health
facilities, laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, private
companies and institutions, workplaces, schools, prisons, ports,
airports, establishments, communities, other government
agencies, and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) to actively
participate in disease surveillance and response; and
• (i) To respect to the fullest extent possible, the rights of people
to liberty, bodily integrity, and privacy while maintaining and
preserving public health and security.

RA 9994 - Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010

An act granting additional benefits and privileges to senior citizens further amending RA 7432, otherwise known as "an act to maximize the contribution of senior citizens to nation building, grant benefits and special privileges and for other purposes"

shall serve the following objectives:
• "(a) To recognize the rights of senior citizens to
take their proper place in society and make it a
concern of the family, community, and
government;
• "(b) To give full support to the improvement of
the total well-being of the elderly and their full
participation in society, considering that senior
citizens are integral part of Philippine society;
• "(c) To motivate and encourage the senior
citizens to contribute to nation building;
• "(d) To encourage their families and the
communities they live with to reaffirm the valued
Filipino tradition of caring for the senior citizens;
• "(e) To provide a comprehensive health care and
rehabilitation system for disabled senior citizens to
foster their capacity to attain a more meaningful
and productive ageing; and
• "(f) To recognize the important role of the private
sector in the improvement of the welfare of senior
citizens and to actively seek their partnership.

• "In accordance with these objectives, this Act
shall:
• "(1) establish mechanisms whereby the
contributions of the senior citizens are
maximized;
• "(2) adopt measures whereby our senior citizens
are assisted and appreciated by the community
as a whole;
• "(3) establish a program beneficial to the senior
citizens, their families and the rest of the
community they serve: and
• "(4) establish community-based health and
rehabilitation programs for senior citizens in
every political unit of society."

RA 9165 - Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002

Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to safeguard the integrity of its
territory and the well-being of its citizenry particularly the youth, from the harmful
effects of dangerous drugs on their physical and mental well-being, and to defend the
same against acts or omissions detrimental to their development and preservation. In
view of the foregoing, the State needs to enhance further the efficacy of the law
against dangerous drugs, it being one of today's more serious social ills.
Toward this end, the government shall pursue an intensive and unrelenting campaign
against the trafficking and use of dangerous drugs and other similar substances
through an integrated system of planning, implementation and enforcement of antidrug
abuse policies, programs, and projects. The government shall however aim to
achieve a balance in the national drug control program so that people with legitimate
medical needs are not prevented from being treated with adequate amounts of
appropriate medications, which include the use of dangerous drugs.
• It is further declared the policy of the State to provide effective mechanisms or
measures to re-integrate into society individuals who have fallen victims to drug
abuse or dangerous drug dependence through sustainable programs of treatment and
rehabilitation.

RA 9502 -Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008

• Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to
protect public health and, when the public interest or
circumstances of extreme urgency so require, it shall adopt
appropriate measures to promote and ensure access to
affordable quality drugs and medicines for all.
• Pursuant to the attainment of this general policy, an
effective competition policy in the supply and demand of
quality affordable drugs and medicines is recognized by the
State as a primary instrument. In the event that full
competition is not effective, the State recognizes as a
reserve instrument the regulation of prices of drugs and
medicines, with clear accountability by the implementing
authority as mandated in this Act, as one of the means to
also promote and ensure access to quality affordable
medicines.

R.A. 7610 - Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act."

Declaration of State Policy and Principles. - It is hereby
declared to be the policy of the State to provide special
protection to children from all firms of abuse, neglect, cruelty
exploitation and discrimination and other conditions,
prejudicial their development; provide sanctions for their
commission and carry out a program for prevention and
deterrence of and crisis intervention in situations of child
abuse, exploitation and discrimination. The State shall
intervene on behalf of the child when the parent, guardian,
teacher or person having care or custody of the child fails or is
unable to protect the child against abuse, exploitation and
discrimination or when such acts against the child are
committed by the said parent, guardian, teacher or person
having care and custody of the same.
• It shall be the policy of the State to protect and rehabilitate
children gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances
which affect or will affect their survival and normal
development and over which they have no control.

RA 9262 - Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004

• Declaration of Policy.- It is hereby declared that the
State values the dignity of women and children and
guarantees full respect for human rights. The State
also recognizes the need to protect the family and
its members particularly women and children, from
violence and threats to their personal safety and
security.
• Towards this end, the State shall exert efforts to
address violence committed against women and
children in keeping with the fundamental freedoms
guaranteed under the Constitution and the
Provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the convention on the Elimination of all
forms of discrimination Against Women, Convention
on the Rights of the Child and other international
human rights instruments of which the Philippines
is a party.

R.A. 10121 -Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010

Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to:
• (a) Uphold the people's constitutional rights to life and property by addressing the root causes of
vulnerabilities to disasters, strengthening the country's institutional capacity for disaster risk reduction
and management and building the resilience of local communities to disasters including climate change
impacts;
• (b) Adhere to and adopt the universal norms, principles and standards of humanitarian assistance and
the global effort on risk reduction as concrete expression of the country's commitment to overcome
human sufferings due to recurring disasters;
• (c) Incorporate internationally accepted principles of disaster risk management in the creation and
implementation of national, regional and local sustainable development and poverty reduction
strategies, policies, plans and budgets;
(k) Recognize the local risk patterns across the country and strengthen the capacity of
LGUs for disaster risk reduction and management through decentralized powers,
responsibilities, and resources at the regional and local levels;
• (l) Recognize and strengthen the capacities of LGUs and communities in mitigating
and preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the impact of disasters;
• (m) Engage the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs), the private sector
and volunteers in the government's disaster risk reduction programs towards
complementation of resources and effective delivery of services to the Citizenry;

RA 7600 - The Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992

Declaration of Policy. — The State adopts rooming-in as a national policy to encourage,
protect and support the practice of breast-feeding. It shall create an environment where basic
physical, emotional, and psychological needs of mothers and infants are fulfilled through the
practice of rooming-in and breast-feeding.
• Breast-feeding has distinct advantages which benefit the infant and the mother, including the
hospital and the country that adopt its practice. It is the first preventive health measure that
can be given to the child at birth. It also enhances mother-infant relationship. Furthermore,
the practice of breast-feeding could save the country valuable foreign exchange that may
otherwise be used for milk importation.
• Breastmilk is the best food since it contains essential nutrients completely suitable for the
infant's needs. It is also nature's first immunization, enabling the infant to fight potential
serious infection. It contains growth factors that enhance the maturation of an infant's organ
systems.

R.A 10354 -Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012

This Act declares the following as guiding principles:
• (a) The right to make free and informed decisions,
which is central to the exercise of any right, shall not
be subjected to any form of coercion and must be fully
guaranteed by the State, like the right itself;
• (b) Respect for protection and fulfillment of
reproductive health and rights which seek to promote
the rights and welfare of every person particularly
couples, adult individuals, women and adolescents;
• (c) Since human resource is among the principal assets
of the country, effective and quality reproductive
health care services must be given primacy to ensure
maternal and child health, the health of the unborn,
safe delivery and birth of healthy children, and sound
replacement rate, in line with the State's duty to
promote the right to health, responsible parenthood,
social justice and full human development;
(d) The provision of ethical and medically safe, legal,
accessible, affordable, non-abortifacient, effective and
quality reproductive health care services and supplies is
essential in the promotion of people's right to health,
especially those of women, the poor, and the
marginalized, and shall be incorporated as a component
of basic health care;
• (e) The State shall promote and provide information and
access, without bias, to all methods of family planning,
including effective natural and modern methods which
have been proven medically safe, legal, non-abortifacient,
and effective in accordance with scientific and evidence based
medical research standards such as those
registered and approved by the FDA for the poor and
marginalized as identified through the NHTS-PR and other
government measures of identifying
marginalization: Provided, That the State shall also
provide funding support to promote modern natural
methods of family planning, especially the Billings
Ovulation Method, consistent with the needs of acceptors
and their religious convictions;
(f) The State shall promote programs that: (1) enable
individuals and couples to have the number of children they
desire with due consideration to the health, particularly of
women, and the resources available and affordable to them
and in accordance with existing laws, public morals and
their religious convictions: Provided, That no one shall be
deprived, for economic reasons, of the rights to have
children; (2) achieve equitable allocation and utilization of
resources; (3) ensure effective partnership among national
government, local government units (LGUs) and the private
sector in the design, implementation, coordination,
integration, monitoring and evaluation of people-centered
programs to enhance the quality of life and environmental
protection; (4) conduct studies to analyze demographic
trends including demographic dividends from sound
population policies towards sustainable human development
in keeping with the principles of gender equality, protection
of mothers and children, born and unborn and the promotion
and protection of women's reproductive rights and health;
and (5) conduct scientific studies to determine the safety and
efficacy of alternative medicines and methods for
reproductive health care development;
(g) The provision of reproductive health care, information
and supplies giving priority to poor beneficiaries as
identified through the NHTS-PR and other government
measures of identifying marginalization must be the
primary responsibility of the national government
consistent with its obligation to respect, protect and
promote the right to health and the right to life;
• (h) The State shall respect individuals' preferences and
choice of family planning methods that are in accordance
with their religious convictions and cultural beliefs, taking
into consideration the State's obligations under various
human rights instruments;
• (i) Active participation by nongovernment organizations
(NGOs), women's and people's organizations, civil
society, faith-based organizations, the religious sector
and communities is crucial to ensure that reproductive
health and population and development policies, plans,
and programs will address the priority needs of women,
the poor, and the marginalized;
(j) While this Act recognizes that abortion is illegal and
punishable by law, the government shall ensure that all
women needing care for post-abortive complications and
all other complications arising from pregnancy, labor and
delivery and related issues shall be treated and counseled
in a humane, nonjudgmental and compassionate manner
in accordance with law and medical ethics;
• (k) Each family shall have the right to determine its ideal
family size: Provided, however, That the State shall equip
each parent with the necessary information on all aspects
of family life, including reproductive health and
responsible parenthood, in order to make that
determination;
• (l) There shall be no demographic or population targets
and the mitigation, promotion and/or stabilization of the
population growth rate is incidental to the advancement
of reproductive health;

RA 10152 -Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011

The mandatory basic immunization for all infants and children provided under this Act shall cover the
following vaccine-preventable diseases:
• (a) Tuberculosis;
• (b) Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis;
• (c) Poliomyelitis;
• (d) Measles;
• (e) Mumps;
• (f) Rubella or German measles;
• (g) Hepatitis-B;
• (h) H. Influenza type B (HIB); and
• (i) Such other types as may be determined by the Secretary of Health in a department circular.
• The mandatory basic immunization shall be given for free at any government hospital or health center
to infants and children up to five (5) years of age.

R.A. 10666- Children's Safety on Motorcycles Act 2015

Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to defend the right of children to
assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms
of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their
development.
• Towards this end, the State shall pursue a more proactive and preventive approach to
secure the safety of passengers, especially children, by regulating the operation of
motorcycles along roads and highways.

R.A. 10821 - Children's Emergency Relief and Protection Act

Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect the fundamental
rights of children before, during, and after disasters and other emergency situations when
children are gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances that affect their survival and
normal development. Guided by the principles on survival and development, on child
participation, and consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child,
as well as the Children's Charter for Disaster Risk and Reduction, and the minimum standards
for children in humanitarian action, the State shall establish and implement a comprehensive
and strategic program of action to provide the children and pregnant and lactating mothers
affected by disasters and other emergency situations with utmost support and assistance
necessary for their immediate recovery and protection against all forms of violence, cruelty,
discrimination, neglect, abuse, exploitation and other acts prejudicial to their interest,
survival, development and well-being.

PD 603 - Child and Youth Welfare Code

It shall apply to persons below twentyone
years of age except those emancipated in
accordance with law. "Child" or "minor" or "youth" as
used in this Code, shall refer to such persons.
• Rights of the Child. - All children shall be entitled to the
rights herein set forth without distinction as to
legitimacy or illegitimacy, sex, social status, religion,
political antecedents, and other factors.
• (1) Every child is endowed with the dignity and worth
of a human being from the moment of his conception, as
generally accepted in medical parlance, and has,
therefore, the right to be born well.
• (2) Every child has the right to a wholesome family
life that will provide him with love, care and
understanding, guidance and counseling, and moral and
material security.
• The dependent or abandoned child shall be provided
with the nearest substitute for a home.
Rights of the Child. - All children shall be entitled to the
rights herein set forth without distinction as to legitimacy or
illegitimacy, sex, social status, religion, political
antecedents, and other factors.
• ( (3) Every child has the right to a well-rounded
development of his personality to the end that he may
become a happy, useful and active member of society.
• The gifted child shall be given opportunity and
encouragement to develop his special talents.
• The emotionally disturbed or socially maladjusted child
shall be treated with sympathy and understanding, and shall
be entitled to treatment and competent care.
• The physically or mentally handicapped child shall be
given the treatment, education and care required by his
particular condition.
• (4) Every child has the right to a balanced diet, adequate
clothing, sufficient shelter, proper medical attention, and all
the basic physical requirements of a healthy and vigorous
life.
• (5) Every child has the right to be brought up in an
atmosphere of morality and rectitude for the enrichment and
the strengthening of his character.
commensurate with his abilities and to the development
of his skills for the improvement of his capacity for
service to himself and to his fellowmen.
• (7) Every child has the right to full opportunities for
safe and wholesome recreation and activities, individual
as well as social, for the wholesome use of his leisure
hours.
• (8) Every child has the right to protection against
exploitation, improper influences, hazards, and other
conditions or circumstances prejudicial to his physical,
mental, emotional, social and moral development.
• (9) Every child has the right to live in a community
and a society that can offer him an environment free
from pernicious influences and conducive to the
promotion of his health and the cultivation of his
desirable traits and attributes.
(10) Every child has the right to the care, assistance,
and protection of the State, particularly when his parents
or guardians fail or are unable to provide him with his
fundamental needs for growth, development, and
improvement.
• (11) Every child has the right to an efficient and
honest government that will deepen his faith in
democracy and inspire him with the morality of the
constituted authorities both in their public and private
lives.
• (12) Every child has the right to grow up as a free
individual, in an atmosphere of peace, understanding,
tolerance, and universal brotherhood, and with the
determination to contribute his share in the building of a
better world.
•

RA 9211- Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003

Policy.—It is the policy of the State to protect the populace from hazardous products
and promote the right to health and instill health consciousness among them. It is
also the policy of the State, consistent with the Constitutional ideal to promote the
general welfare, to safeguard the interests of the workers and other stakeholders in
the tobacco industry. For these purposes, the government shall institute a balanced
policy whereby the use, sale and advertisements of tobacco products shall be
regulated in order to promote a healthful environment and protect the citizens from
the hazards of tobacco smoke, and at the same time ensure that the interests of
tobacco farmers, growers, workers and stakeholders are not adversely compromised.

Purpose.—It is the main thrust of this Act to:
• a. Promote a healthful environment;
• b. Inform the public of the health risks associated with cigarette smoking and tobacco use;
• c. Regulate and subsequently ban all tobacco advertisements and sponsorships;
• d. Regulate the labeling of tobacco products;
• e. Protect the youth from being initiated to cigarette smoking and tobacco use by prohibiting
the sale of tobacco products to minors;
• f. Assist and encourage Filipino tobacco farmers to cultivate alternative agricultural crops to
prevent economic dislocation; and
• g. Create an Inter-Agency Committee on Tobacco (IAC-Tobacco) to oversee the
implementation of the provisions of this Act.

RA 6425

Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972

provides for importation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals.

Republic Act 10028

expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009

Declaration of Policy.

The State adopts rooming-in as a national policy to encourage, protect and support the practice of breastfeeding. It shall create an environment where basic physical, emotional, and psychological needs of mothers and infants are fulfilled through the practice of rooming- in and breastfeeding.